Texas Recreational Road 2

Route description

RE 2 begins at the Rough Canyon boat-launch ramp on the Amistad Reservoir in the Rough Canyon Colonia region of the Amistad National Recreation Area. From this terminus, the highway proceeds as a two-lane, paved road, which travels through a small parking lot and turns northeastward. The road continues northeast as it passes the Rough Canyon Marina and the Rough Canyon Colonia camping area on the eastern edge of the park, as well as several houses and independent camp sites. The highway intersects Cam Real Road, which leads to the Devils Shores community and the surrounding area. The route bends eastward, passing the Rough Canyon Inn and a small parking lot and intersecting a small road before it continues into rural areas again. Proceeding along a small ridge, the highway bends northeastward and travels over a small unnamed wash before reaching its eastern terminus with US 277/US 377.

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) publishes yearly reports of the highway's annual average daily traffic (AADT), with counts usually taken near intersections. In 2011, the route's AADT was 310 vehicles, taken from a point to the west of the US 277/US 377 intersection. This count was exactly the same as the one taken in 2010, which in turn was a decrease from the count taken in 2009, when RE 2's AADT count was 440 vehicles. No portion of the highway is listed on the National Highway System, a network of roads important to the country's economy, defense, and mobility.

History

A road first appeared in the location of RE 2 around 1940. This route was an unimproved dirt track with a primitive bridge over a small creek near the middle of it. The road led to a small community made up of three residential buildings. By 1951, the highway's bridge had been converted to a small concrete dip which allowed the creek to flow through it. The route had been improved to a graded, drained gravel surface by 1956. By 1961, it had been improved to a metaled surface, and had been straightened along the eastern portion. Two additional concrete dips had been constructed, over two small creeks connecting to Devils River. In addition, the community which the road served had expanded to five residential structures and a gate was built at the western end of the highway.

The first serious interest in the road came in mid-1969, when the National Park Service approved a plan to develop the facilities with Amistad. The Rough Canyon and Diablo East portions of the park were given particular focus, since they were the only two that were in existence at the time. Large boat ramps were constructed at both areas, in an attempt to increase tourism.

In early August 1971, several consecutive days of heavy rainfall led to flooding throughout the area. Several highways in the area were damaged, including RE 2. Portions of the highway were completely washed out, which took about two weeks to repair.

On April 1, 1970, RE 2 was officially designated by TxDOT. The highway, along with Recreational Road 255, became the first routes designated as "recreational roads" by the Texas State Highway Department. However, both roadways still had to be approved by the Highway Department's Administration Circle; RE 255 was approved on April 15, 1970, making it the first official highway. RE 2 was approved by the Administration Circle on June 1, 1970, making it the second route officially designated as a recreational road. Since RE 2's designation, each recreational road has been numbered sequentially. Between 1970 and 1972, the highway was paved, and the concrete dips replaced with drainage pipes. One of the route's bends was straightened, shortening it from 7.4 miles (11.9 km) to about 7.2 miles (11.6 km) in length. The highway has not undergone any major rerouting or redesignation since.

Major intersections

The entire highway is in Val Verde County.